Op-ed: When a politician knows the Bible better than a preacher, something is dreadfully wrong

If you missed it, a congressional hearing just gave us a lesson in biblical interpretation.

Rev. Mariah Tollgaard, the senior minister at Hamline Church United Methodist in St. Paul, appeared before lawmakers to argue that biblical teaching supports government programs designed to care for the poor. That argument isn't new. For years, it has been common to hear people cite Jesus' words about compassion and care for the needy as justification for government redistribution.

So there's nothing surprising that the "pastor" of a progressive church known for its left-wing political advocacy would be making that case.

But what made this exchange different was what happened next.

Texas Congressman Michael Cloud didn't dodge the biblical claim. Instead, he confronted it directly.

Watch the exchange, and then some thoughts:

Cloud began by asking a simple question about a passage often used in these debates: Who exactly is Jesus addressing?

From there he cited other passages that speak about charity - including Paul's instruction in 2 Corinthians that giving should come from the heart, "not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

What followed was striking. Not because a congressman knew those passages...

But because the minister testifying before Congress appeared unfamiliar with them.

At one point in the exchange, Cloud referenced one of Jesus' most widely known parables, the Parable of the Talents. When he asked what the master calls the servant who failed to use what he was given, the pastor sat stone faced.

The answer, of course, is that the servant is called "wicked" and "lazy."

It's not a difficult passage. It's one that many Christians learn early in their time studying Scripture, which is why the moment was so jarring.

The real issue exposed in that exchange wasn't political. It was pastoral.

A minister had been invited to testify before Congress about what the Bible teaches, and yet the person asking the questions appeared far more comfortable navigating the text than the one claiming the title of teacher.

That should be of the utmost concern to anyone calling themselves a Christian. The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the seriousness of teaching God's Word. James warns that not many should presume to be teachers, because those who teach "will be judged more strictly."

Pastors occupy a position of enormous influence, opening the Scriptures week after week to explain them to people who absorb their words faithfully.

When that responsibility is treated casually, or when the Bible becomes little more than a tool used to support preexisting political ideas, the consequences ripple outward.

Ask yourself: If a pastor struggles to answer basic questions about the biblical text, what does that mean for the congregation sitting under that teaching every week? What kind of instruction are they receiving? What understanding of Scripture are they walking away with?

And when their pastor goes to Capitol Hill to influence immigration policy, which will affect the safety and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people...

The exchange in Congress may have gone viral because of the political context. But the more troubling takeaway lies somewhere else entirely.

It is not unusual for politicians to speak loosely about the Bible. That's been happening for a long time. What is unusual - and troubling - is when a minister appears less prepared to discuss Scripture than the lawmaker questioning her.

The responsibility of pastors is not to provide theological cover for political movements. It is to faithfully teach the Word of God.

And when that calling is neglected, it is the brotherhood of believers and the Kingdom of God that pay the price.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Not the Bee or any of its affiliates.